Charge-forming device for internal-combustion engines.



J. H. SHUMAKER.

CHARGE FORMING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5, 1913.

1,13&5@1 Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.-

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5, I9I3.

Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- materially aim E. summit, of BEAVER FALLS, rsriiwsirmuuwin.

omen-resume DEVICE FOR m'rnannn-comnus'riou ENGINES;

Application filed August 5,1913. sem in. 783,092.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JIM H. SHUMA'KER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls,in county of Beaverv and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charge-Forming Devices for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in charge-forming devices for internal-combustion engines, and more particularly to such devices intended for use with engines of the two-cycle or four-cycle type, to be applied as an attachment to a standard en gine or built in in the design of the engine,

and is adaptable to single or multiple cylinders.

It has been determined that when the explosive charge is introduced into the explosion-chamber ata pressure greater than-atmospheric, and is then ignited, the force of the explosion and consequently the driving power exerted against the piston are greatly increased.

The object of this invention is to-provide a device in which the normal operation of the engine acts to force the explosive. mixture into the explosion chamber at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, and at the same time maintains the pressure at the source of the explosive charge without detracting from the power of the engine.

A further object is to so connect and assemble the parts that a self-starting device of the explosive mixture supply type is formed.

A still further object" is to eliminate the exhaust into the'atmosphere and utilize the power which has heretofore escaped through the exhaust.

This invention relates to certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :'Figure I 1 is a view in side elevation of a standard engine showing my improvement applied thereto,and with parts broken away, and

. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing my invention applied in a slightly different manner.

The engine A, which is of the standard type, has the cylinder 1, the crankcase 2, and the inlet and exhaust and exhaust ports 3 and 4: respectively.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedMay4,1915.

A mixing tank B ismounted at any suitable point adjacent the engine, and has 'a I pipe 5 leading therefrom to the inlet 3 of the .engine. The tank B is intended to be only partly filled with gasolene or other volatile liquid from which the gas is formed, and the pipe 5 preferably connects with the gas chralirnber thus left in the upper part of the ta Air is supplied to the tank B through a pipe 6, the outlet from which is submerged and is preferably at the point where the liquid has the greatest depth, thus insuring that the air is sufliciently enriched beforeit 'risesto the gas chamber or the upper'part of the tank. It is preferred that the air volume from the pipe 6 be broken up as it passes into the tank, and I have provided a number'of perforations 7 which form an outlet from the pipe 6 into the tank.

A pipe 8 is connected with the crank-case 2, and at its free end with the air supply pipe 6', and-a like pipe 9 connects the exhaust 4 with the air supply pipe 6. I Checkvalves 10 and 11 are provided in the pipes 8 and 9,. so that the pipes are left free to the passage of fluid only in a direction from the engine to the air supply pipes 6. An inlet valve 12 is secured to the 'wallof the crank-case 2. As the piston is thrown on its downward stroke by the ignition of the explosive charge, the air in the crank-case 2 is compressed and is forced through pipe 8 to pipe 6, and. thence into the mixing-tank B. As the piston turns and starts on the upward or exhaust stroke, the contents of the explosion chamber is forced out through the outlet 4 in pipe 9 from which it passes to pipe '6, and thence to the mixing tank B. At the same time that the piston travels on its upward 'stroke, air is drawn into the crank-case through the inlet valve 12, and when the piston again travels at a downward stroke, this fresh supplyof air is compressed and forced out through the pipe 8. As the exhaust from the engine is into the air supply pipe 6, it is preferable that the air be strainedand cleansed before it is permitted to rise through the liquid in the mixing-tank to the gas chamber, and to accom plish this straining and purifying action I place water or other cleansing liquid, which wouldbe heavier than the volatile liquid, in the bottomiof the mixing-tank B, and as this water-.would flow back into the air supply pipe 16 ';by:r'eason of the fact that this pipe i is coniie'cted'with the bottom of the tank, all air assing into the mixing-tank B would be ltered through the water, and all foreign particles removed,

A valve 13 is provided in the gas-pipe 5 to shut off the supply of gas to the inlet when the engine is not in use. When the valve 13 isopen and gas is being supplied through the pipe 5, any back firing which might ignite the gas contained in the mix-v ing-tank B is prevented by a check-valve 14, which is connected in the as pipe 5, and a safety valve 15 is provided 5 between the inlet and the check-valve 14 to permit the escape of back-pressure.

Under some conditions, the air supplied from the exhaust may not prove sufficient for the intake of the engine, and air would then be taken into the pipe 5 through the air inlet valve 16. It may also be desirable to provide a fan or blower 17, and connect this by a pipe 18 with the air supply pipe 6 to form an auxiliary air supply, and in this connection the additional air would pass through the volatile liquid. By connecting the belt 19, which drives the fan, to run with the crank-shaft 20 of the engine, and providing any form of suitable clutch (not shown), the supply of air to the tank ,Bmay be augmented at any time during the normal running of the engine. To guard against too great pressure in the mixing tank B, an escape valve 16 is provided in the pipe 6, so that when the supply of air from the several sources becomes ex'cessive, the air is not forced into the mixing-tank but is permitted to escape to thev atmosphere. The valves 16 and 16 are preferably of a type that they can be regulated to open' at various pressures to suit the different running requirements.

W1th the four-cycle engine as shown in F1g. 1, all of the parts would be standard, the inlet and exhaust being controlled by the valves in the usual manner, and th only change which would be necessary would be to connect the air inlet valve 12 and the air pipe 8 with the crank-case.

W1th the two-cycle engine, as shown in Fig. 2, the gas-supply pipe 5 may be ex: tended and tapped into the explosion'chamber at any convenient point. For instance, the passage can be formed as showii adjacent the spark-plug at the'top of the cylinder, the gas pipe 5' could lead into the spark-plug opening, and the spark-plug be inserted in the special socket provided in the pipe; or any other arrangement which may seem feasible can be,made, and the function yet retained.

The exhaust 4 can, as shown, he used without a mechanically-operated valve for the reason that the check-valve 11' in the pipe 9 will perform the function of a mechanically-operated valve; and the same is in the gas-pipe true of the check-valve 14: in the gas supply pipe5. In some cases, however, it may seem desirable to provide mechanicallyoperated valves, and in such a structure the connection would be formed in a manner similar to that disclosed in Fig. 1. Apart from the differences pointed out, the structure disclosed in Fig. 2 is identical with that shown in Fig. 1.

a By varying the supply of air through the air pipe 6, the mixture supplied through the gas-pipe 5 or 5 can be varied. By experiment I have found that the mixture passing to the inlet can be composed of u to 90% air, although a perhaps more e cient result is obtained when the percentage of air inthe mixture supplied is maintained slightly lower, say at 86%.

This structure isadmirably fitted as a self-starting device, as there is a supply of gas under pressure maintained at all times within the mixing-tank B. By opening the valve 13 in the gas-pipe 5, gas is admitted into the explosion chamber of the engine, and when the switch is thrown the circuit is formed at the spark-plug, this charge is ignited, which causes the piston to be driven on its downward path, and, as the supply of gas through the gas-pipe 5 is constant, the operation of the engine continues, and air is forced through the volatile liquid in the mixing-chamber, and the gas pressure is thus maintained. 9

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a structure by which the charge is introduced under pressure into the explosion chamber by the normal operation of the engine, and without materially detracting from the power of the engine.

Further, the down-stroke of the piston .18

cushioned by the compression of the air 1n the crank-case and at the same time the engine is not permitted to exhaust to the atmosphere, but the exhaust is turned to a useful purpose. Still further, a supply of gas is always maintained. The engine may be started at any time, regardless of climatic or atmospheric conditions, and by first. permitting the gas to flow to the explosion chamber, and then closing the ignition circult, the enginecan be started withoutthe usual objectionable cranking to volatilize the liquid fuel and draw the gas thus formed into the explosion chamber.

It is evident that changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts described to adapt the device to different types and designs of engine without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not'wish to be limited to the exact construction herein set forth, but

Having, fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,'is:-

1. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination with an internal Combustion engine, a mixing-tank made fluid-tight and adapted to contain a volatile liquid used to enrich air for forming an exsaid air supply pipe and. with the chamber of the cylinder at a suitable point to provide an exhaust opening, a pipe leading from the crankcase to said air supply pipe, and valves located. in each of said pipes connecting with the air supply pipe and in the gas supply pipe to be opened-and closed at the proper intervals by the suction and compression of the fluid carried by the pipes.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination'with an internal combustion engine, a mixing-tank made fluid-tight and adapted to contain the volatile liquid used to enrich air for forming an explosive charge for the engine, an air supply pipe connected with the mixin -tank, a gas supply pipe leading from said tank and connected with the inlet of the enfgine, he

a pipe connected with the exhaust o t engine and with the air supply pipe, and a pipe leading from the crank-case to said air pp y igp i I 3. A evice. of the character described, comprising, in combination with. an internal combustion engine, a mixing tank. made fluid-tight and adapted to contain the volatile liquid used to enrich air for forming an explosive charge for the engine, an air supply pipe connected with the mixing-tank and having the opening therefrom submerged in the liquid a as su ly i e leadin from said tankanf coml dlzed w ith the il ilet of the engine, a pipe connected with the exhaust of the engine and with the air supply pipe, an airv inlet valve placed to admit air to the crank-case, a pipe leading from the crank-case to said air supply pipe to contain the air from said crank-case as it is compressed by the down-stroke of the piston, and valves located in said gas supply pipe and in the pipes from the exhaust and the crank-case.

4. device of the character described, compris ng, in combination with an internal combustion-engine, a mixing-tank made fluid-tight and adapted to contain the volatile liquid used to enrich air for forming an explosive charge for the engine, an air supply pipe connected with the mixing-tank preferably at thelowest point thereof, the liquid level in the tank maintained at such a level that a gas chamber is formed in the upper part of the tank, a gas supply'pipe leading from the gas chamber and connected with the inlet of the engine, apipe connected with the exhaust of the engine and with the air supply pipe, a pipe leading from the crank-case to said airsupply pipe, and an auxiliary source of air supply arranged tobe operated by the normal running of the engine for augmenting the supply of air forced into the mixing-tank.

5. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination with an internal combustion engine, a mixing-tank made fluid-tight and adapted to contain a volatile liquid used to enrich air for forming an explosive charge for the engine, an air supply pipe connected with the mixing-tank preferably at the lowest point thereof, said air supply pipe and, tank so constructed that a straining. and moistening liquid heavier than the volatile liquid can be placed in the bottom of the tank and in the air supplv pipe for straining and moistening air be ore it passes through the volatile liquid, a gas supply pipe connected with the mixing-tank in the upper part thereof and leading to the inlet of the engine, a pipe from the exhaust of the engine and'connected with the air supply pipe, an air inlet valve connected with the crank-case, an air outlet pipe from the crank-case to the air supply pipe, an auxiliary source of air supply adapted to derive its driving powerfrom the engine for augmenting the supply of air fed through the air supply pipe.

6. A device of the character described comprising an internal combustion engine, a mlxmg tank adapted to contain liquid fuel, means for forcing air through-said liquid fuel under pressure,a pipe leading from the eral valves in said pipe, namely a checkvalve, a safety-valve, an air inlet valve, and a valve under the control of the operator.

tank to the cylinder of the engine, and sev- In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

RALPH T. SAYRE, WM. BLOOM.

JIM H. SHUMAKER. 

